County Board Tables Vote on Proposed Data Center

The Sangamon County Board on Monday night tabled a vote on a proposed CyrusOne data center in Talkington Township following a three-and-a-half-hour meeting at the Bank of Springfield Center that drew a large crowd and extended public comment.

The decision came after an initial motion to table the project failed on a 15-13 vote. Board member Craig Hall, whose district includes the proposed site, called for a second vote later in the meeting. With board members Sam Cahnman and Justin Davsko changing their votes, the motion to table was approved, delaying action on the conditional use zoning permit.

The proposal involves a $500 million data center planned for a 280-acre site roughly 30 minutes southwest of Springfield. CyrusOne, the Dallas-based company behind the project, has said the location was selected due to its proximity to existing infrastructure and available power capacity, including access tied to the Double Black Diamond solar facility.

Zoning officials have said that the proposal meets applicable zoning requirements, though the board ultimately chose to delay a final decision through the tabling motion.

The meeting followed a structured format, beginning with the initial failed vote to table before moving into presentations from both proponents and opponents of the project, who were each given 30 minutes to present their case. It then opened to public comment before the board returned to the issue and approved the motion to table.

During both the formal presentations and the public comment period, speakers who voiced support for the project were at times met with audible reactions from portions of the crowd, including interruptions and expressions of disapproval.

Speakers on both sides of the issue raised a range of arguments during the presentations and public comment period. Those in favor of the project pointed to potential economic benefits, including increased property tax revenue and the creation of construction and long-term jobs. Those opposed cited concerns about environmental impact, noise, and broader questions about the long-term effects of the facility on the surrounding area.

Because the measure was tabled, it will not move forward unless a board member brings it back for consideration at a future meeting. The County Board is scheduled to meet again on April 7. If the matter is not taken up within a certain timeframe, or if the board ultimately votes against the project, it could open the possibility of legal action from the developer.

Sean Middleton, president of the Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative, said the county is positioned to support high-tech industrial development and noted that RECC would operate the electrical grid serving the facility.

Labor unions again had a visible presence, citing the project’s commitment to create hundreds of construction jobs over multiple years.

CyrusOne representatives were present at the meeting but left without immediate comment following the vote.

In a statement following the meeting, the company said it remains engaged in the process.

“CyrusOne respects the process and appreciates the continued time, consideration, and engagement from county leadership, community members, and local stakeholders. We remain actively engaged and committed to addressing questions, providing additional information, and continuing to work collaboratively with the community as this process moves forward. This project is designed to deliver meaningful economic benefits, including significant investment, job creation, and long-term support for local infrastructure and community priorities. We are encouraged by the ongoing dialogue in Sangamon County and the relationships we are building throughout this process.”